Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano de Bergerac

Movie spotlight

Cyrano de Bergerac

1900
Movie
2 min
French

Considered the first motion picture to employ both color and sound, the only film record ever made of the original star of Rostand's famous play performing a scene from his most famous role. It is accompanied by a sound-on-cylinder recording of Coquelin's voice reciting one of Cyrano's speeches.

Insights

Director: Auguste MaquetGenres: Drama, Romance, History, Comedy

Plot Summary

This early silent film adaptation tells the classic tale of Cyrano de Bergerac, a witty and poetic cadet with an famously large nose, who is secretly in love with the beautiful Roxane. Because of his perceived physical inadequacy, he helps his handsome but inarticulate fellow cadet, Christian, woo Roxane by writing eloquent love letters and supplying him with poetic words.

Critical Reception

As one of the earliest film adaptations of Edmond Rostand's play, this silent version was a significant achievement for its time, bringing the beloved story to a new medium. Contemporary reviews would have focused on the novelty of cinema and the effectiveness of the performances within the silent film format, likely praising its dramatic fidelity and Coquelin aîné's central performance.

What Reviewers Say

  • A pioneering cinematic interpretation of a celebrated stage play.

  • Showcases the theatrical prowess of its lead actor within the nascent film medium.

  • Captures the essence of Cyrano's unrequited love and poetic soul.

Google audience: As this film predates widespread digital archiving and review aggregation, specific Google user reviews are not available. However, its existence as an early adaptation indicates a strong public interest in the story and its characters.

Fun Fact

This film is notable for being one of the very first cinematic adaptations of Edmond Rostand's highly successful 1897 play, demonstrating the growing influence of popular theatre on the burgeoning film industry.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review